The World’s Greatest is Dead

As I picked up the blue orb, a few questions emerged in my mind.

From the beginning, the source of the mystery was why Namgung Sung had decided to visit the alliance ‘personally’.

The Mountain Sky Demon was a member of the Evil Faction who had killed martial artists of the Namgung family and fled. He also continued to kill Namgung family martial artists in a cave in Anhui.

Since it was the alliance that had killed the Mountain Sky Demon and kept the body, the kin of the clan had appeared in person to grasp the situation.

Thinking that way made it seem reasonable, but…

“Really?”

It was a pretense, a mere excuse. That was my judgment. Before I met him, I wasn’t sure, but after meeting him, I became certain.

“He’s not the type to care about such things.”

You could tell by the feeling. His eyes and his breath revealed it.

His goal was not the dead Namgung family martial artists or the Mountain Sky Demon.

Then what was it? What reason did the Young Azure Sword have to come all the way to the Murim Alliance?

“Is it because of me?”

The news that the previous incarnation of the Sword Saint had appeared.

Did I come upon hearing that news?

“It’s possible.”

It made sense, but…

“The timing doesn’t match.”

The time taken for the news to spread in the alliance and then reach the Namgung clan in the southeast. Then departing immediately and dragging an investigation team all the way here.

Considering the preparation period in the clan and the planning of what conversations to have, the timing simply didn’t fit.

“Of course, it’s possible to think that they hastily made plans in the carriage.”

Both him and I knew that it wasn’t urgent or desperate enough to be done that hastily.

So, there was only one thing left.

“His goal from the start was not me.”

It was understandable that a clan member would show up just because the previous incarnation of the Sword Saint appeared in Anhui, but…

It needed to be realized that this was not the only reason.

That was why I thought it was faster than expected when I heard Namgung Sung had appeared.

Then what was the goal?

I stared at the orb in my hand.

“Is it this?”

An orb whose purpose was unknown. Told to have been taken from the Mountain Sky Demon’s possession, Grandpa had said it was an important item for the Namgung family.

It seemed unreasonable to make a big deal over an orb, but…

“Something must be up for the Mountain Sky Demon to steal it.”

It was just a guess… no, honestly, I was convinced.

The Mountain Sky Demon had killed a martial artist of the Namgung family and fled. Thus, a kill order was issued, and the Namgung family pursued him.

This was a plausible story, but…

“Would the Namgung family really stay at it for months?”

It wasn’t just any kin but a martial artist. I didn’t know much about the Namgung family, but were they really that deeply sentimental?

Or did they take the actions of the Mountain Sky Demon as an attack on their clan?

“No, they wouldn’t.”

There had to be another reason. The reason why they had to catch the Mountain Sky Demon at all costs. I judged that reason to be this orb.

“As Grandpa also mentioned it.”

The significance of the blue orb. Namgung Sung had come to this Anhui branch for that. The alliance must have notified the Namgung family immediately upon capturing or discovering the Mountain Sky Demon.

On the way, they must have heard about the Sword Saint as well.

Up to this point, I roughly grasped it.

“The matter related to Chun Uijin, who was the one pulling the strings?”

There was someone behind Namgung Sung. This could be inferred from their conversation.

“I’ll think about this conversation later.”

I needed to deal with the important thing first.

“So, specifically, what do you plan to do about it?”

Destroy the Young Azure Sword. I asked about the meaning of Yu Chun-gil’s words.

『Hmm? What do you mean by how? We’re going to destroy him.』

“So how, exactly.”

『Is there a method to destroying something? Do we hit it until it breaks, or cut it until it shatters… is that the difference?』

“That’s a truly brutal and thoughtless method. Really, it’s not helpful.”

I held my throbbing head and sighed.

“In the end, it means you plan to break the Young Azure Sword.”

I could vaguely guess the reason.

But I couldn’t understand why we had to do it.

‘He probably has his reasons.’

That sly old man surely had something in mind.

Trusting that, I had sent the letter obediently too.

Oh, of course…

‘I didn’t write it exactly as he said though.’

“I have what you are looking for. So, come see me again quietly.”

Grandpa had advised me to write and send it that way. However, it seemed insufficient so I added something extra. It wasn’t much, really.

‘I just used a bit of my ability.’

I simply sent it as it appeared before my eyes. The effect might be substantial. Quite a lot, probably.

* * *

Drip… drip…

Inside the cave, water dripped occasionally. A torch illuminated the surroundings. The floor was still damp with blood, and the pungent smell of blood filled the area. Surveying the interior, Namgung Sung, also known as the Young Azure Sword, narrowed his eyes.

“Is this all there is?”

“Yes, that’s correct, Young master.”

An officer of the Murim Alliance, first squad leader Go Kyung, answered Namgung Sung’s question.

Looking troubled, Namgung Sung spoke again.

“…So, such a brutal slaughter… Our warriors met their end here because of that Evil Faction bastard.”

Crack.

His clenched fist, displaying palpable rage, showed everyone how he felt. Namgung Sung bitterly regretted the death of the warriors from his family sect.

Squad leader Go nodded in agreement, thinking, ‘The future of the Namgung Family is bright.’

This young man had already made a name for himself due to his remarkable talent. Moreover, if he cared so much about the warriors from his family sect, the Namgung Family would shine even brighter under his leadership.

‘I must secure my connections before that happens.’

Just as Squad leader Go firmed his resolve after realizing the practicalities swiftly, Namgung Sung frowned while glancing around secretly.

‘These pests.’

Thinking of the countless warriors from the Namgung Family who died here, Namgung Sung bit his lip.

‘To think they couldn’t catch a single Evil Faction member and died so pathetically. How could they be this incompetent.’

Mountain Sky Demon, who fled after stealing the Azure Dragon Orb from the main house. They used every possible means to capture him, yet he was still eluding them, causing immense frustration.

However.,

‘There was a slippery one involved, after all.’

A traitor from the Blue Moon Sect had harbored ill intentions, meddling with the efforts. Consequently, some information leaked, making it more challenging to capture Mountain Sky Demon.

Because of that.

‘Because the alliance failed to capture Mountain Sky Demon. Because we couldn’t find the Azure Dragon Orb.’

Everything got tangled up.

‘It’s become troublesome.’

A power struggle for the position of the young family head would soon take place, and such developments would only complicate matters.

If he couldn’t find the Azure Dragon Orb, he knew how his father would view him.

‘If I make one wrong move, “that bastard” could seize the opportunity.’

Although he held the upper hand politically, being overtaken wasn’t out of the question.

The elders could also turn their backs, using the Azure Dragon Orb issue as an excuse.

‘Disgusting old men.’

They must know his hand very well, yet they still dithered around.

‘So, I must find it, by any means necessary.’

He had to uncover the truth before things became even more troublesome.

‘No notable information from the Anhui branch…’

If they had found something, there would have been immediate word. They would’ve reported it to the family head by now.

The lack of information either meant they hadn’t found it, or they were keeping it a secret.

‘Or they are keeping it a secret.’

If they were indeed keeping it a secret…

‘Are they trying to warn me?’

It would mean they were aware of how difficult it would be for him once it was known, and they possibly had their own demands.

‘Ha!’

Who dared to do this to him? Namgung Sung, cold eyes glinting, started to ponder who the culprit might be.

There were only three possible suspects. The three survivors from here.

First, Yu Hyung-In, the eldest son of a fallen family. Surprisingly, his skills were at the first-rate level.

The second suspect, and a strong one, was Chun Uijin.

‘A troublesome one.’

The son of the Blue Moon Sect lord and a candidate for the next leader of Blue Moon Sect. His candidacy was practically meaningless, given that his standing was incredibly low compared to the other candidates.

‘Did he hide the Azure Dragon Orb?’

There was ample motive. If he had indeed found and concealed the Azure Dragon Orb, he might have been trying to leverage it to control the Namgung Family.

However,

‘I’m not sure.’

Namgung Sung did not have faith in it, despite the justification.

Chun Uijin seemed upright.

He appeared to be intelligent and talented, but his overly upright nature was problematic.

He was weak in politics and could not harbor malice in human relationships, so his position was shallow.

Hence, he must have been betrayed and nearly killed.

Could Chun Uijin, such a person, hide the Azure Dragon Orb and play tug-of-war with him?

Namgung Sung thought not.

‘He can barely handle what he swallowed right now.’

Certainly, Chun Uijin had obtained something here.

A trace of the Sword Saint? A secret he left behind?

Whatever it was, he must have acquired it.

Given that the successor of the Blue Moon Sect had obtained it, the Murim Alliance would not be able to intervene significantly.

Namgung Sung was interested in how significant the acquisition was, but it ended there.

‘No matter how great, it will not match the capacity of that guy.’

He could not digest it.

That was how Namgung Sung saw Chun Uijin.

Therefore, he wasn’t shaken.

So, only one suspect remained.

‘Bang Sung-Yun…’

Liaodong’s Bang Clan.

A fallen clan that used to be famous. Wasn’t Bang Chunho the head of the family?

‘There isn’t any notable story about them.’

There was little information.

Since the fall, the family head had been playing around with women, the eldest son was a scoundrel, and the eldest daughter had left the family.

It was a household in disarray.

In such a family…

‘A sudden Sword Saint’s successor?’

Not the eldest son, but an illegitimate son who had stayed in Liaodong and came to Anhui a year ago.

‘Is he hiding something?’

It was so strange and peculiar that it seemed plausible.

Otherwise, it could be that the real Bang Sung-Yun was using a borrowed identity.

After all, Chun Uijin had done something similar.

“Tsk.”

The information was flimsy.

An unexpected figure’s appearance.

A situation Namgung Sung hated the most.

Moreover,

‘A snake-like guy.’

Bang Sung-Yun was an odd fellow.

He was proficient in rhetoric, subtly twisting the conversation to lead it his way.

He had power that he wouldn’t have had if he had only wielded a sword his entire life.

‘That kind of person stayed as a subordinate in the branch for a year?’

Being treated as a third-rate warrior for a year.

Was the purpose of the Sword Saint’s disciple the cave?

For that matter, how did the Sword Saint, who was said to have died over a decade ago, leave behind a disciple?

How could Chun Uijin prove it?

While there were so many twists, Namgung Sung frowned more and more.

‘Never mind. It’s not the identity of the guy that matters now. It’s the Azure Dragon Orb.’

He quickly reprioritized.

Bang Sung-Yun, who killed the Mountain Sky Demon, most likely had the Azure Dragon Orb.

While it’s possible that the Mountain Sky Demon left the Azure Dragon Orb behind, he did not consider such a possibility.

In that case…

‘First, we retreat and attempt an approach.”

Just as Namgung Sung decided to order the investigating warriors to return,

“Young Master.”

Someone approached Namgung Sung from behind and spoke.

It was a warrior of the Namgung clan.

“Yes?”

There were many Murim Alliance members nearby.

Managing his expression quickly, Namgung Sung asked.

The man handed him a letter.

“This is a letter from the alliance branch.”

“From the alliance branch?”

“Yes. They said you would understand if I mentioned that Young master Bang sent it.”

“Huh?”

Bang Sung-Yun?

Namgung Sung furrowed his eyebrows at the unexpected situation.

“Is he trying to discuss support again?”

If so, he would be disappointed.

It would mean he was no different from the rats that needed the Namgung family’s nameplate.

With a furrowed brow, Namgung Sung unfolded the letter.

“……”

Namgung Sung froze while holding the unfolded letter.

“Young Master?”

The man carefully called Namgung Sung, noticing something strange.

Still no response.

“Young-”

At that moment.

“Where is he?”

Namgung Sung loosened his tensed body and asked.

The man who saw this flinched.

Namgung Sung’s expression was strange.

He was trying to smile but couldn’t, resulting in a contorted and bizarre face.

Moreover,

“You bastard… where is Bang Sung-Yun now?”

His eyes even held an inexplicable murderous aura.

* * *

I was lying down leisurely, staring at the ceiling.

How many lines were there? I counted every visible line and stain.

About half a stick of incense seemed to have burned when…

Knock, knock.

I felt a presence outside. It was probably the news I had been waiting for.

I slightly lifted my head and spoke.

“Who is it?”

– Master Namgung has come to see you.

Hearing the servant’s words, I scratched my cheek.

It felt somewhat like I was being treated to hospitality.

‘A servant, huh?’

My house had fallen, so there was no one to call a servant left, and those who remained had been family guards.

The fact that I was commanding someone felt strangely uncomfortable.

‘It’s an unfamiliar feeling I don’t need to get used to.’

These clothes were not mine.

With that thought, I got up.

“Yes, let him in.”

Creeaak.

As soon as the words left my mouth, the door opened, and a young man smiled and bowed to the servant who opened it.

It was Namgung Sung.

Blushing as if embarrassed, the servant closed the door.

“……”

In that instant, Namgung Sung’s expression changed in a flash.

Wow, look at that glare. How fierce.

I chuckled and spoke to him.

“For what reason have you come-”

“What is this?”

Namgung Sung interrupted me and approached me.

Then he threw a paper in front of me.

“It’s troublesome to just throw trash into someone else’s room.”

I picked up the paper that had fallen on the floor.

It had a few short phrases written on it.

They were all written by me.

The content of the writing was as follows:

『White skin. A dot on the bridge of the nose. Hair is a shoulder-length bob. Age around nineteen. Cause of death seems to be strangulation.』

『A bit darker skin with two moles under the eyes. Hair reaches the waist and eyes have a brownish hue. Age about sixteen or seventeen. Cause of death is the same.』

『Moderate skin color with monolid eyes. A small burn mark near the neck, seeming to be in my thirties.』

“What is this?”

Namgung Sung’s voice pierced through as I read the lines.

He was glaring at me with fierce eyes.

Seeing him, I raised the corner of my lips.

“You dropped the formality? Then so will I.”

“What?”

Namgung Sung’s eyebrow twitched at my nonchalant words.

“Why are you asking when you already know? That’s why you came looking, isn’t it?”

At my words, Namgung Sung’s face twisted. Even the barely maintained composure had crumbled.

“They’re all women you tormented to death. Correct?”

Indeed, the good-looking ones live up to their faces. My father used to be like that, but this guy was worse.

So bad, in fact…

‘Those evil spirits clung to him like that.’

From the first time I saw, the women who had become evil spirits were glaring at Namgung Sung as if about to kill him.

Only staring at Namgung Sung so as not to meet their eyes. The old saying that a woman’s grudge is frightening wasn’t a lie.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just-”

“Oh, enough.”

Cutting him off as if I was tired of listening.

“If you hate me meddling with this.”

From the start, my main point was singular.

“Let’s just have a fight, you perverted bastard.”

“…. What?”

Breaking the Young Azure Sword.

It was time to carry out Elder’s wish.

TL’s Corner:

So Little Azure Sword is a reppist.